Prizes for winning New Year's Eve run are homemade pies

When the Rev. Jay Cummings decided to revive the 5K run/walk on New Year's Eve as part of the "Eve on the Ave" downtown festivities, he didn't have to think twice about awards to the top finishers: homemade pies.

"I got the idea from running the Hanover Firecracker because they always gave homemade pies to the winners," Cummings said about the Fourth of July race.

"Other guys and gals said they wanted to win because they wanted a pie more that a trophy," said Cummings, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ, 801 S. Mechanic St.

So he asked his congregation to bake 20 pies, and women and men will be rolling crust and mixing fillings a week from now.

"They are used to that - getting dinners together - so this isn't hard for them. I think originally I said 'apple pie,' but I realized it doesn't make any difference, so I told them bake what you want," Cummings said.

Not only is it a nice prize, but Cummings said he wanted to cut expenses so as much money as possible can go to the beneficiary, the after-school program sponsored by the Partnership Park Downtown Neighborhood Association.

St. John's is part of that association and the race begins there.

"It's a cool race with the fireworks going off as you're running," Cummings said. "It's a good race to help kids, to start the new year in a healthy way and to have fun."

The race begins at midnight and the cost is $15 before Saturday, $18 after, and includes a long-sleeved shirt if supplies last.

Registration and packet pickup is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the center or 10 to 11:50 p.m. Dec. 31. For more information, call Cummings at 784-7580.

No-bake recipe

Some time ago a no-bake cookie recipe was published in this column. The recipe request was for a richer, darker chocolate and Pam Pacyna of Jackson e-mailed that she has started using Hershey's "Special Dark" cocoa.

This is a blend of natural and Dutched cocoas and sold in an 8-ounce container.

Another version is from SACO, a premium cocoa with the same type of blend.

It is sold in a 10-ounce can.

For a more rich chocolate no bake, try this one:

No-Bake Cookies

• 2 cups sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/2 cup Special Dark cocoa

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

• 3 cups oatmeal

• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In large saucepan, combine sugar, milk, cocoa and butter.

Bring to a rolling boil and cook three minutes. Remove from heat and stir in oatmeal, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix thoroughly and drop onto wax paper. Let harden.

Note: If you use margarine instead of butter, cut back the cooking time 45 to 60 seconds to make a firmer cookie.

Variations: Add 11Ú2 teaspoons mint extract for a chocolate-mint version. Or, use 11Ú2 cups oatmeal and 11Ú2 cups coconut (these won't be quite as hard as the other cookies).